An Australian state is offering what it humbly dubs, “the best job in the world.” The person or persons hired for this job of “island caretaker” will be paid handsomely to lounge around a lush island along the Great Barrier Reef. Job duties include sunbathing, swimming, and occasionally fishing leaves out of the pool. It sounds right down my alley!
Actually, what piqued my interest about the job is the fact they’re seeking a video blogger. I suspect the genuine duties of the role will involve appearing at public events, speaking to the media, and exploring all facets of the island lifestyle with a video camera in tow. To prove the point, prospective candidates must apply by creating a 60-second video in which they state their case. It sounded like a fun creative challenge, so we decided to pull together an entry.
We had fun making this one. I’m pleased with the result. So from now on we’ll include this 60-second video in the “About” section of our website. It serves as a upbeat introduction to The Long Long Honeymoon.
Suppose we were to actually land “the greatest job in the world?” Odds are long; since announcing the opportunity, the island tourism board has received several thousand applications.
But if we were chosen for the position, I think it would be a nice fit with The Long Long Honeymoon. One of our missions this year is to demonstrate that RVing and camping skills can serve you abroad as well as right here in the good ole USA. If you learn the RV lifestyle in America, you can take it overseas. It will help you see the world.
And I think that our blog’s “honeymoon” theme would serve our Aussie friends well. It’s no secret that honeymoons are typically among the most extravagant vacations that people ever take. I’m sure there are plenty of Americans out there who wouldn’t mind honeymooning along the islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
So if any of you folks reading this blog happen to be employees of Tourism Queensland… pick us! 😉
You guys stink! I have been watching about the best job and have been working on my video. It must be mine! 🙂 I really enjoy watching your videos and this one lives up to your fine abilities. Good luck because the game is ON!
Sean,
Good luck with the gig. Hey, someone has to land the job and the two of you are qualified and have proven experience. Since I stumbled on your site back in December I refer to you as my new best friend. I’m impressed with the site and quality of the videos. Again, good luck.
LOL Tom… That is great that you are doing a video also! Hey, if WE don’t get the job, it would be cool to KNOW the guy who gets it. 😀 Best of luck with your entry. It’s pretty tough cramming everything into 60 seconds, but we did the best we could.
Thanks a lot, Joe… We’ve made some good friends through our blog! I hope it’s of use to people, both for information and for just entertainment. We have fun making it…(err, usually)…
With regard to the job, I’ve read that Tourism Queensland was deluged with entries. We’re talking over 5000 so far… so it’s really a long shot. Supposedly they will be choosing a “top 10” list of candidates who’ll be flown to Australia for interviews…
Did they mention that only ONE of you will be on the Island for a year… alone and no BEER.
What sounds like a great time in fact becomes a trailer for the hit series LONE survivor… The occasionally fishing leaves out of the pool… naaa wait a min… its says ocasionally fishing… with leaves out the pool… which by the way is your only source of drinking water… replinished when the next typhoon passes. And as to the lounge around a lush island… ahhh did they tell you that this is the same island of Dr. marroo… later to be known as Jurasic park? Hunting and fishing at your leasure… ya but who is doing the hunting… if your the only ONE PERSON on the island.
Of course it says you will be visited by people passing by… The Nuambie tribe is noted for the finger licking good shrinks and treatment they gave Robinson C when he was their years ago… (don’t consern yourself with that person saying… they eat people don’t they??)
As for the job description of … duties include sunbathing, swimming, and occasionally duking it out with the sharks and sea snakes… something about only things with two legs being on the menu… one can only imagine what one does at night after the sun goes down… ALONE with no BEER. arrrrgggg
The last guy who stay’ed on the island was only the’re for a whopping 36 days and now has dolpins, sea crabs and a coconut Named Mr… pib … for his best friends.
Ideal job… but what is Kristie going to do while your playing with the locals??
Pack your bag I hear your in the running… best start jogging that 5 miles a day to get them 6 pack abbs going… I hear the deadly black momba can only do 15 mph for half a mile… so set your targets high… and hope there is only one …smile…
Have fun… you have the right stuff for the job…least a new camera… that the other guy doesn’t…. well… for real… like in running man… movie… its all about how you percieve it to be… Just remember your ON a ISLAND… OUT in the BIG OCEAN..ALONE with no BEER… and only the coconut to talk to… after the float plane leaves … it gets real QUIET.. except for the anamules that are duking it out … sizing up how to fix whats for on the menu for dinner… ALONE for a whole year… and did we mention… NO BEER
LOL… Well, the job’s in Australia. I’ve never been there, but if what I’ve heard about the place is remotely true, then the beer flows freely!
It’s a longshot… If they receive over 10,000 entries as expected, it’s a long, longshot. But I am a dreamer, so I will toss my hat into the ring.
I think I know what they are seeking. They want someone to showcase the pleasures of Queensland effectively using video blogging as the medium. And they’ll expect regular personal appearances at local events and related PR functions.
It’s a brilliant campaign. It’s been fun just participating in the application process. I hope they are taking it all seriously and there’s really a good hire made at the end of it!
Well if your dead set on going… have your bags already packed , all dressed and ready to go… grab your camera, remember what we told you on how to get the best shots… get dressed, pack the trailer..(you are taking your AS and Seemore with you)…. weight??… may have to leave Kristie at home (like that is going to happen I see she handcuffed herself to the door of the AS already) …
we made the call from the studio and put some good words in for ya.. (after we had the boys over in production…touch up some of your posted work to give it that extra zing… remember the hook ) remember no whining no return. This is what you wanted… (we don’t say your in .. but at least the director look at your (our) tape… that we sent down to ’em on the transfer system. His comment was … blimie… good
So now what to do…
Contact AS and see how they pack the trailer for shipping to AU. Contact Ford and see if they too want to sponsor you to go also… as you would be using one of their products to tour AU with the trailer… hmmmm.. (might as well get all you can from the others too ) Making this into a GREAT adventure… for not only the Aussie’s but for the RV industry and manufactures here in the states toooooo…
G L break a leg…
Oh and make sure the management of the two manufactures also contact the manager down their… with the idea that this will benift all…
Doesn’t look like you may be going to Argentina this year… after all.. hmmm…
Rooting for ya … and who knows .. may even get on the big bird and come down to film you doing your thing … Do they have Caravans to AU?
Oh ya the beer is Fosters… bad news is…., its not real cold…. pooooo…
Good news is… it comes in a liter glass… (grinnnnnnn)
What model of Sony HD did you get with which to dazzle us all. Technogeek chatter is requested.
Last year I got a little Sony HD for video audit real estate work, but a larger, more stable HD digital platform sure looks enticing where zoom distances are appropriate – e.g. wildlife – rural and urban, hyper-rural, ufo.
Bigger is almost always more better whether at fun or work – the same as you two are so convincing to us all.
God knows many of us need more stability in our lives today, recoding for tomorrow.
Kilgore, my fancy “Mac Daddy” Sony camera is a PMW-EX1. It’s just a fabulous camera… has three 1/2-inch CMOS chips, records to solid state media. It’s a beast!
But… most of The Long Long Honeymoon has been shot with tiny little Canon HV20 cameras. They record HD (HDV) and are not too expensive. They are just excellent little HD cameras, especially for those shooting travel footage. They are easy just to toss in a backpack and take with you anywhere. And unlike the Sony, they don’t attract too much unwanted attention… 🙂
Well, I finally got around to doing my video. It’s no Walkabout Production but I did one.
Check it out: http://thebraseltons.com/2009/02/18/help-me-get-the-best-job-in-the-world/
–Tom
Tom, nice job! I think your video turned out great. Congrats on Zoe, too!
It was fun to learn more about you. You managed to cram a lot of quality info into 60 seconds. I also like the touch of using the “Best Job” interface throughout the video.
Look at it this way… If you make the top 11, I’ll throw my endorsement over to you, and campaign accordingly! 😀
A couple of days before we left for Argentina, I uploaded a 2nd video with a very different tone. It’s more of a straight business pitch. I have no idea how they’ll take this one, but when I read that their “bread and butter” travel is honeymoon tourism, I thought I should make the case:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-whgLv022M
(BTW, if you click the “Watch in HD” link on YouTube it all looks a lot better.)
I’ve noticed the quality of videos has really increased in recent days. It’s going to be tough to make the top 11, though I’d like to think we have a shot.
Thanks Sean!
I agree, the later videos have been super impressive. I didn’t think of sneaking a couple of videos in there you dog! I like the second one too.
Good luck! It’s better odds than the lottery!
I’ll keep enjoying your blog and carry on with my business. I find that we have many things in common.
Have a great day!
Tom, I think we are fellow geeks. (Hey, in high school my prized possession was not a car, but a Commodore 64.)
With regard to the “best job,” now I see where they had over 34,000 applicants! They will have their hands full winnowing the applicant pool down to 11.